Are you a nature lover who enjoys seeing wildlife in its natural habitat? Would you like to see a herd of free-roaming bison from the back of a horse? If you answer yes to these questions then Prince Albert National Park in Saskatchewan is a place you should consider checking out when visiting Canada!

Canada is a huge country with a plethora of places to visit and explore. Every year millions of people from all over the world visit Canada. But what happens if a visitor comes to Canada without medical insurance and has an accident or unexpected illness that requires medical attention? Is it even possible for a visitor to Canada to enter the country without having some form of medical insurance protection? Read on to find out more.

There are many foreign workers currently residing and working in Canada at any given time. But what happens if a non-Canadian worker gets sick or has an accident that requires medical attention while here in Canada? Well, turns out that all foreign workers (including family members) who have a valid Work Permit will be eligible for provincial healthcare coverage. For more details please read on!

Foreign live-in caregivers in Canada can enroll in the "Live-in Caregiver Program" (LCP), which gives caregivers full access to Canadian provincial healthcare coverage. Families that employ a foreign caregiver (e.g. "nanny") may be responsible for providing their caregiver with temporary visitor to Canada medical insurance until the nanny is eligible for provincial healthcare coverage.

This blog article discusses immigration to Canada from a healthcare perspective. Canadian healthcare differs from province to province, and new immigrants should apply for provincial healthcare immediately upon arrival!

Visitors to Canada insurance offers protection against unforeseen medical emergencies while traveling, studying or working in Canada.
This blog article offers several great tips that will help keep costs down and also help to avoid complications with VTC coverage while in Canada.

We all know that uninsured hospital stays can be expensive, but how much does a stay in a Canadian hospital actually cost?
This information is especially important for visitors who are not covered for unexpected medical expenses while traveling in Canada. Accidents can happen, as do unexpected illnesses and other emergency situations such as heart attacks, etc.

When travelling abroad or coming to Canada it is important to know how pregnancy-related issues are covered (or not covered) by travel insurance.
It is often assumed that both a pregnant mother and the expectant child can be covered, but often this is not the case.

Do you have a parent or grandparent that would like to visit Canada? If you do then you should know as of December 1, 2011, Immigration Canada is now offering parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens (permanent residents) the option of getting a Canadian "super visa".
Unlike traditional visas this Canadian super visa is: valid for 2 years; renewable up to a total of 10 years; and allows for multiple entries into Canada. Within this two year period the applicant does not have to apply for a new visa every time they enter Canada!

When it comes to quality of lifestyle, Canada is the top destination for expats, according to HSBC Bank International. Following Canada as a desirable location for expats is Australia and Thailand in the number 2 and 3 spots. Expats rated qualities such as accommodation, food, entertainment, social and family life, education, childcare, healthcare, household goods, working hours and commuting distances, health, hobbies, among other things. Canada was also highly rated when it came to such issues as making friends and integrating easily into their new communities.

According to the study, the top ten locations for expats determined by quality of life are:

The United Kingdom scored very poorly in the votes regarding quality of life, and was at the bottom of the list of considered countries. Canada also scored very highly when it came to:

• Enrolling children into the Canadian public school system;• Being able to set up finances, utilities and healthcare in their new country;• Finding a new place to live;• Learning the local language;• Making friends not only with other expats, but with local residents.

Over half the expats that participated in this study have lived abroad for more than five years. Canada placed third in regards to countries for settling down; South Africa and Thailand are first and second. Expats under the age of 35 are most likely to return home at least once a year; three-quarters of those surveyed make at least an annual trip home. Those expats who live in Brazil are most likely to go home at least once a year, according to almost 94% of those surveyed. The study also showed that the longer an expat has remained in their adoptive country, the less likely they are to return home. Only one third of expats who have lived away from their original country for 10 years or more reported they have not gone home for more than 2 years.

One of the factors that expats consider when choosing a new country is the quality and cost of healthcare in their adoptive country. While Canada does provide basic, free healthcare for all of its legal residents and/or citizens, newcomers to Canada may face a 3 month waiting period when they first arrive before they are eligible to receive their provincial health card. In order to avoid costly medical bills during these 3 months, outside health insurance is recommended. In some provinces a simple visit to a walk-in clinic can start at $50.00 just for an initial examination and does not include prescription medications, further follow-up medical care, etc. Visitors to Canada insurance is an ideal health insurance plan to bridge this gap in order to have optimal health coverage during those months where the newcomer is uninsured.

In a few short weeks, students from all over the world will be heading to Canadian universities and colleges. As a multi-cultural country, Canada welcomes foreign students, and recognizes their contribution to our communities. If you are not a Canadian citizen, and are planning on attending a post-secondary institution here, you should be aware of what exactly is entailed.

Non-Canadian citizens will require approximately 6 months in order to gather the required documentation and information that is needed. Make sure you allow yourself the necessary time to apply for and receive your documents and permits. You will need to allot time in order to find housing, etc. You will also need to determine how much money you will need in order to cover tuition, books, housing, etc. As you will not be covered under provincial healthcare, it is advisable to also purchase health coverage.

For those who wish to continue their education in Canada, we have provided some helpful tips to help you with the process.

• You must first choose the institution you wish to attend. Every university and college has it's own admission requirements, especially regarding language capabilities. It is important that you meet these requirements and are eligible for enrolment. It is advised that you apply a year before you wish to attend. Contact the university/college that you are interested in and obtain the necessary information and application forms. You must have your proof of acceptance before you apply for your study permit.

• Once you have your proof of acceptance, you can now apply for your study permit. In order to be eligible for this permit, you will need to prove that you have enough money to cover your expenses. This includes your tuition, living expenses for you and any family members that are coming with you to Canada, and transportation between Canada and your current country of residence. You may also need to obtain a certificate from the police stating that you have no criminal record and are not a risk to Canadian security. You must be willing to complete a medical examination, if necessary, in order to prove that you are in good health. An immigration officer may want to verify that you intend on leaving Canada upon completion of your studies.

• You are now ready to apply for your study permit. You will need to find out how long it will take to process your application. You can do this by visiting the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. This website also has the necessary forms for you to download and print. Check the List of Designated Countries to see if you also need to apply for a temporary resident visa as well as your study permit. You do not need a separate application for a visa, as a visa officer will process your application at the same time. Collect all of the documents you will need to provide, such as your proof of acceptance, proof of identity, proof of financial support and letter of explanation. Once you have all your documentation in order, submit your application to the nearest visa office. You will be required to pay a processing fee, which is non-refundable, even if your application is denied.

• Once your application is approved, you will receive a letter of introduction confirming your approval. You must bring this letter with you to show immigration officials when you arrive in Canada. If you are from a designated country in which you require a visa, the Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) will be in your passport. This indicates the expiry date in which you must arrive in Canada, and also whether or not you will be allowed to enter Canada multiple times during your stay. Make sure you bring all of your necessary documents, as you will be required to show them before admittance into Canada.

The Canadian government does not cover the medical costs incurred by foreign students. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that foreign students purchase their own health insurance coverage. HealthQuotes.ca offers several Visitors to Canada insurance plans. These plans provide coverage for foreign students attending school in Canada. To qualify, you must be a full-time student during the time of coverage. These policies cover expenses such as:

Traveling To Canada

Canada continues to be an affordable, exciting vacation destination for many people and offers an array of exciting outdoor and urban travel opportunities.

For more information about exploring Canada see the government's Exploring Canada web page.

While planning your Canadian vacation, ensure that you purchase the appropriate travel medical insurance. Whether you are sky-diving or sight-seeing, travel coverage takes the worry out of your trip.

IMG's "SelectaPlan" offers coverage for extreme activities via the "Adventurous Travelers" Plan, and covers international travelers up to age 49 who plan on participating in extreme sports and activities during their stay in Canada. Coverage is available for Canadians, U.S. and non U.S. citizens. Individual and family travel medical insurance plans are also available, with up to two years of coverage. Rates are based on age, length of coverage and country of citizenship. Discounted travel rates are available, for those who intend to travel in groups of 5 or more.

Ontario Blue Cross and Manulife Financial's Visitor's Insurance both offer extensive coverage, and is available to visitors, foreign students, immigrants and also returning expatriates. Coverage can begin as soon as 72 hours following purchase, and medical coverage includes hospital, medical and transportation expenses, as well as subsistence allowance and other travel benefits.